ILTM Africa to highlight rise of transformative travel

‘Transformative Travel’ is set to be the over-arching theme of this year’s ILTM Africa 2015, which runs from 13 to 15 April at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC). The thought-provoking Opening Forum that will explore Africa’s place at the heart of the contemporary luxury travel trend for philanthropic experiences. The scene will be set by Anita Mendiratta, renowned International Strategist and Advisor on Tourism and Economic Development, who will address what ‘luxury’ means for world travellers to Africa – the core motivators that turn a travel experience into a series of luxury moments – and how luxury has become one of the most important channels for Africa to showcase all that it has to offer the world. The Opening Forum will continue with the main debate of the morning: ‘Transformative Travel: Local Connection & Lasting Legacy, Africa’s BIG Opportunity’. With luxury travellers increasingly seeking experiences that will ‘transform’ both their own travel experiences and also the lives of others, the session will profile industry experts who will discuss how short-term visitors can make a sustainable impact with a lasting legacy on a local community. Speakers at this session include Les Carlisle from andBeyond, Trevor Fernandes from Wildlife Safaris, James Fernie from Uthando and African Bushcamps’ Beks Ndlovu. To close the Opening Forum, attendees will hear from a transformative travel case in point: Kevin Chaplin, MD of the Amy Biehl Foundation – a non-profit organisation running programmes to develop and empower five- to 18-year-old youths in impoverished townships. ILTM Africa is a specialist invitation-only event, where luxury travel agents and advisors from across the world meet Africa’s most spectacular luxury travel experiences. Now in its third year, ILTM Africa is set to introduce an unrivalled community of dedicated Africa buyers and suppliers in mutually matched, one-to-one appointments, across three days. ILTM Africa will be one of three co-located travel industry events at the CTICC that form ‘Africa Travel Week’.  The others will include IBTM Africa (Incentive, Business Travel  & Meetings), also from 13 to 15 April and WTM Africa (World Travel Market), which will take place from 15 to 17 April 2015. www.iltm.com/africa www.africatravelweek.com